Police investigating crash involving tractor-trailer at SUV on Rt. 60 in Pomfret...
A crash involving a tractor-trailer and a Sports Utility Vehicle shut down a section of Route 60 in the Town of Pomfret for several hours Monday.  Chautauqua County dispatchers say the crash occurred at about 10:15 a.m., and, that it caused the SUV to roll over.  Route 60 was closed between Webster and Straight Roads... but, it reopened about 4 p.m.  State Police are handling the investigation.

Woman and girl hurt when their car is struck by a train in the town of Portland...
Two people were hurt... but, apparently not seriously... when the car they were in was struck by a train at the Munson Road crossing in the town of Portland.  Sheriff's officers were called to the scene about 1:30 p.m. Sunday on a report of a Norfolk-Southern Train hitting a vehicle.  Deputies say the driver... 37 year-old Shannono Burgun of Brocton... failed to stop at the stop sign prior to crossing the tracks.  Burgun and a 12 year-old girl were taken to Westfield Memorial Hospital for treatment of their injuries.  Burgun was charged with failure to stop.

North county man arrested for trying to hit person with his vehicle, and breaking into their home...
A Fredonia man faces several charges after allegedly trying to hit someone with his car in the village of Brocton... and, tried to break into the victim's house during a separate incident.  Sheriff's officers and State Police both responded to a Central Avenue location about 8:30 a.m. last Friday... and, determined that 38 year-old Matthew Galen had gotten into an altercation with a person at the residence, and then tried to hit that person with his vehicle.  He's also accused of gaining access to the home during another incident... and, damaging someone elses property inside.  Galen is then accused of fleeing the scene... but, was later found and arrested without incident.  He was charged with second-degree reckless endangerment... third-degree criminal tampering... second-degree burglary... and, fourth-degree criminal mischief.  Galen was taken for processing... then taken to the county jail for centralized arraignment.

Sundquist says flat tax rate in budget due to increased property values, and more anticipated revenues in 2024...
A big increase in property values, and more projected revenues are allowing the city of Jamestown to keep taxes flat in Mayor Eddie Sundquist's 2024 budget proposal.  Sundquist unveiled his $40.15-million spending plan late last Friday... and, says his administration is anticipating about $1.3-dollars more in revenues next year... and some of that is due to the increase in property value.  He says that increase is projected to be about 22%.  Overall... property taxes are expected to increase by $207,000, and, some payment-in-lieu of tax agreements will end on some others that will now be fully taxed.  Sundquist says the city has been able to hold overall expenses to a 3.5% increase... which is under the rate of inflation... which is projected to be 4% in 2024.  He says the equalizaton rate next year is expected to be 73%... which is down from 88% in 2023.  The property tax rate would remain $23.69 cents per $1,000 assessed value under the proposed budget.  A final spending plan is due Dec. 1.

Teen charged in connection to two-car accident in town of Hanover...
An 18 year-old boy has been charged following a two-car crash late last week in the north county town of Hanover.  Sheriff's officers were called to the scene on Routes 5 and 20 near the McDonald's restaurant about 3 p.m. last Friday.  Deputies say one person was taken to Brooks-TLC Hospital in Dunkirk for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.  Officers say their investigation showed that the teen made an improper right turn... and, moved from lane unsafely causing the accident.  The unidentified teen was issued traffic tickets for the two infractions... and, will appear in Hanover Town Court.

Ribbon cut on new state-of-the-art playground at Hartley Park in Lakewood...
A large gathering of supporters and other leaders braved a cool, breezy afternoon at Lakewood's Hartley Park to cut the ribbon on the park's new, state-of-the-art playground area near Lakewood Beach.  The approximately $700,000 project was headed up by the Lakewood Community Development Corporation... and, the LCDC's Bill Evans lll, says the ribbon cutting culminates a three-year effort by a number of community partners... including the private individual donors.  Evans says there were a number of public and private contributors... and, individuals who played important roles.  Officials say the "all-inclusive" playground has a 2 to 5 year-old and 5 to 12 year-old play areas... with several features.  They include: two hill racing slides, a Skyrun zip track, a custom imaginative-play nature club house, seesaw, overhead and leaning climber ladder, and more.  State Assemblyman Andy Goodell was among those on hand... and, says being able to raise a significant amount of private funding -- some $170,000 -- helped bring New York state on-board.  Goodell says that kind of local investment is what convinces state officials to support the project.  Primary funding was provided by a $456,000 New York Department of State Environmental Protection Fund Local Waterfront Revitalization Program Grant.  Lakewood Mayor Randy Holcomb says this is a "first-of-it's-kind" playground area in Chautauqua County.